Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-04-11
stlouth s Column.
The Chlldren's Friend

| believe there are very few chill
dren who have not heard of the Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher. Some OF YOU
have seen him, others have been to
Ills church and heard him preach. and
all OF you have heard the sad news of
his death. Mr.. Beecher was great
friend and lover of little people. and
he was never too hurried OF too busy
to stop a moment if child came
near him TO give them kind word.
and a God bless you, my dear. -
He was an especial favorite with the
children of his Sunday schools, who
were always delighted to have Mr.
Beecher address them, and TO listen
while he related some amusing or pa
thetic anecdote. The children of his
neighborhood were also familiar with
his kind face and in the winter when
the snowballs were plenty have had
many lively frolic with him. just be-
fore he died, the last Sabbath evening
he preached in his church L think. at
ter service was over and all the congre-
CATION gone, Mr.. Beecher fingered a
little, and while waiting he saw two
ragged little urchins creep timidly
into church attracted by the music of
the great organ. Mr.. Beecher went
quietly towards them, and put
ting an arm around each spoke
kindly and pleasantly to them, and sud
denly kissed one OF the little upturn-
ed faces, led the boys gently into the
street. One day MIR. Beecher was
sitting quietly in his study, when a
Thought seemed to strike hun, and
taking his notebook from his pocket
he made this entry 1.-The Sepulchre
WAS III Il garden A little girl stand
ing near read the words and asked
hun ii he was going TO make a SER
mon out OF that. ''l es, my dear,
he answered. Twill you make it for
me, MIR. Beecher!" sad she. MIR.
Deecner replied that he would. a
short time alter, he again saw the lit
tie girl, who asked hun ii her sermon
was made. NO, my dear, not yet,
but have the flax and will soon
spin 1t, was his reply. Mr.. Beecher
went away afterwards To the
country, and while absent he heard
of the little girl > death; he FASTENED
home, wrote Tile strmon he had prom
ised, and preached 1t over his little
friends coffin. This incident he
could never relate without shedding
bitter tears. One Sunday MI. Beech
er addressed the mission school con-
nected with his church his remarks
were touching, and one little girl was
quite overcome and sobbed pItlfully.
1he superintendent noticing her,
GOAOi I'LL DCC(4CAs w liz ~ LII
took her on his knee calming and
soothing her with loving words, and
soon alter, although CONTRARY To the
wishes OF his deacons, received the
little girl and her brother into the
church, reminding those who opposed
it ON account of the children's youth
of the Saviour words, ''Suffer little
children to come unto me-" Once
when returning from a tour through
the South, two children came aboard
the train III which Mr.. Beecher was.
They were alone and unprotected.
MIR. Beecher soon made their ac-
quaintance, learned their names and
that they were going to New York.
lie at once appointed himself their
guardian for the time being, enter
tanned them with stories, and at one
OF the stations left the car for a few
moments and returned with a regular
feast, which they all enjoyed. Upon
reaching New FORK, where the chill
dern expected to be met by their I'M
Gle, but as they found no one
to claim the children Mr..
Beecher decided to take them to his
home until their uncle : communi-
Gated with. Iheywere just about satrt-
ing when gentleman approached hur-
rled ~ and asked Mr.. Beecher if he
had seen anything of two children.
Smiling appointing to the two at this
side, MI. Beecher replied ''Ihese
look like children, don't they?" They
proved to be the ones he was looking
for, but as he had never seen them
before he did not recognize them at
first. The children had much to tell
their uncle about the good gentleman,
and when upon close questioning he
| drew from Mr.. Beecher that he was
BIooklyn's famous preacher his
1hoi1 : etuo 1tdISS were enthusiastic
indeed. l could relate many more
such incidents if | had the time and
space, but these will show YOU how
large Mr.. Beehcer's heart was, and
how it oyerfowed with love for chill
dren. But the childrens friend has
gone home, and the most touching
scene at his funea al was, as the chill
dren of his schools passed for q last
look at the beloved face, to see each
one lay a flower upon the bier, low
ing tribute to their departed friend.
| 1t was a characteristic of this great
hearted man to take a hopeful view